Two Sides of Noelle: MC Romance (Demon Rebels MC Book 2) (13 page)

The water flowing from my bath taps is perfection as it fills the large tub. Bubbles already start growing and I light the last vanilla scented candle before placing it down on my countertop. The rest of the day and night are mine to do with how I please, which is to relax and immerse myself in bubbly water, eat chocolates, sip wine, read trashy romance novels, and forget about work, along with all of life’s little stresses. Caveman texted earlier saying he would be gone till tomorrow, caught up with club business. So tonight is mine.

Oh the past week has been incredible. Working then coming home, soon followed by Cave. We have been out to dinner, checked out the new horror movie about the demonologist people, and he even cooked for me. He’s a freaking amazing cook, which shouldn’t have surprised me, but really did. I told him he can cook for me anytime he wants and when I want and for the hell of it anytime between. He rolled his eyes at me, but I was serious. The best part of this past week were the rides. He put me on the back of his bike and we just rode. Highways, scenic routes. Winding roads that revealed beauty at every turn. Straightaways that took my breath away as he pushed the speed limit, making it feel as if we were flying.

I may not look the part, but I’m a biker bitch at heart. And to help me look the part, my man took me to the best Harley store in the area. The kick ass gear he bought me has my ass wiggling in excitement at how awesome my new additions to my wardrobe are. Like a puppy tail. Ridiculous. But still awesome.

Slipping off my robe to let it fall onto the tiled floor, I step one foot into the steaming water but pause when my doorbell goes off. I smile in excitement. Caveman must have been able to get free after all! Shutting off the water and quickly blowing out the candles, I retie my pale lavender robe and rush out to answer the door. I’m losing my relax day, but if that means I get time with Caveman then I’m good with it. Plus, if I wanted to do ‘girlie shit’, his words, then he would just crack a beer and watch a game on TV while I did my own thing.

The only damper has been thoughts of Wood. Caveman told me what happened at the compound, not like he could avoid it with all those freaking bruises covering his glorious body. I hate to see what Wood looked like. Caveman doesn’t seem the type to pull punches, all of that power coming your way. Ouch. I really hope Wood is healing well, Caveman did assure me that he did not maim or severely injure Wood. I also keep thinking on what Caveman said to him about thinking over it. Over me.

My fingers are crossed, but I’m not holding my breath. Multiple days and nothing, so yeah I’m a bit depressed.

Pushing all that away, I smile hugely and open the front door to welcome my man.

“Hey, baby. Damn, you look great.” Stephanie pushes in, taking me by surprise, and hugging me before pushing the door closed behind her. Wait…how did she get in my house? What the fuck is she doing here!?

“What the fuck!” I yell and step backwards, quickly away from her. Her big green eyes widen in shock like she expected a different welcome.

“I missed you, baby.” He red bow lips pout at me. I take in her Snow White looks with her pale skin, long black hair pulled up into a tight ponytail, red painted mouth, and remember how easy it was to be trapped by her when I was scared, alone, and so fucking damaged. She held me up. Became my rock. Then left me to crumble.

“Get. Out.” I order. I am no longer that scared little teen. I can stand on my own two feet now.

“Excuse me? I come here to take you back because I’ve missed you, and you are just going to throw me out? After everything we’ve been through? Everything I’ve done for you?” She steps closer, but I don’t move. I will stand my ground.

“Everything you did for me? Like leaving me without any money because you cleaned out the bank accounts? Or without a home, because I had no way to pay rent three days after you left? But I suppose that was fine considering I had nothing to pack and move because you took everything while I was out interviewing for a fucking job. You didn’t even leave my clothes. Tell me something…did you sell everything or give my shit to your next plaything?”

“Oh no, baby. It wasn’t like that. I was keeping you safe. Some bad men were after me. I had to make it look like I left for good, had to break all ties so they wouldn’t use you for information. It killed me to leave you. But now that’s all over and I can have you back. We can be together again just like we were back then.” Was she kidding me with that line of bullshit!? Bad men after her, what the hell?

My thinking was cut off when I was pulled into her arms. Her soft lips meshed against mine, shocking me to stillness. When what she’s doing with her pushing tongue and questing hands finally registers, I start fighting to pull away from her. Her arms have me locked in her embrace tightly. Tighter than I thought she could manage. Not able to get free I stomp my bare foot down onto her knock-off heels and stumble back when her arms go lax.

“Fuck, bitch! That hurt.” She snarls and I smirk.

“Keep your hands off me.”

“The fuck!?” Stephanie and I both freeze before turning to the man standing in my open doorway. I relax and smile. Holy shit. He actually came to my house. He’s here. Then his pissed way the fuck off face and balled up fists register on what he just walked in on.

“Who the fuck are
you
?” Stephanie, never one to back down from a man, takes up her defensive position and lets her bitch flag fly. I have a funny feeling that shit is really about to go down.

Wood ignores Stephanie’s question and looks me up and down. “You good, Sweets?”

“Yeah, just violated.”

“Excuse me? Violated? You fucking love my mouth on you.” She spits at me before turning to Wood. “Everywhere.”

His eyebrow raises up at her. “And yet she wants you out of here. Guess she’d rather take cock now. Get gone.” Good Lord. Rather take cock? I want to slap him, and laugh, at the same time.

“I do not take orders from you, street rat.” She turns away from Wood, dismissing him. “I’m here to get my girl back. You can’t throw away almost four years of being together, baby. I know that you miss me. That somewhere in that dynamite body of yours you still remember how I feel when I was bringing you pleasure. How I taste. I sure as hell remember how you taste. Sweetest I’ve ever had, baby. And I want it back.”

“The
fuck
?” Wood mumbles, his face almost making me laugh, almost. I almost forget the way she lays it on. Seductive and dirty. Wood in female form, and I think he just noticed that similarity.

“You built me up from the hell I was in, Steph. And I thank you for that. But then you broke me all over again. I became the person I am today. I pushed through the agony of your leaving and the constant relapses. I beat the poison that was you and the sickness I suffered. Not you. You. Left. And you took everything from me. There is no way I would ever,
ever
, take you back and give my heart to you. Anyway, my heart is already taken so it’s not free to have anymore.” I glance at Wood before focusing back on Steph. She notices and her face melts into pure hatred.

“Him? Over me? No fucking way. Does he know about you, poor Noelle?” Her threat hits hard, and she sees it because a sinister smile twists her once pretty mouth. “Oh he doesn’t. Would he stay with you if he knew?” I look over at Wood to see him still as stone, the only movement was a ticking in his jaw. I can’t honesty answer her question.

“Stephanie.” I warn. “Don’t.”

“Oh no, I think I will. It was me who was there while you threw up after every bite of food you ate. It was me who took you to your therapist to get over the mindfuck your mother put you through. You were one fucked up little bitch. Skin and bones, but worth the effort when you danced. Flawless. You know how I love little prima ballerinas. Then I tried to fix you. Stupid me. Because your mom was right after all, wasn’t she, Noelle. You stopped throwing up your food and gained weight super fast, then never danced again. Fat bitches don’t make good dancers, isn’t that right, Noelle?” She stops long enough to look around my modest house before continuing. “Maybe you should start spewing again and get back to the toe shoes. Your life looks like shit as is, you start dancing again maybe you will be worth something one day.”

“
Get the fuck out
.” Wood apparently has had enough because his yell shakes the foundation. Why did I let her continue saying that shit? I just stood there taking it, waiting for Wood to abandon me from his disgust at who I was.

“Oh I’m going, she’s all yours. I think I will go hit up the ballet.
Swan Lake
is supposed to be breathtaking.”

“You’re fucking done, cunt. Never. I repeat never, even attempt to see Noelle again. She is a fucking ghost to you. Barely a memory. You cause trouble for her and I will have a shallow grave marked out just for you. You get me, bitch?”

“You think you can scare me? Think you can talk to me like that? I don’t fucking think so. This is your warning. I will do anything I like and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I’m untouchable.”

Wood laughed in her face. “Get your skanky diseased ass gone.” He waves her away and turns his back on her, walking into the kitchen and out of sight, but not out of hearing distance.

“He’s fucking with the wrong woman,” Steph growls before spinning around and leaving, not saying anything to me because a new target has been acquired for her ire. I have to warn Wood. She’s vindictive and will do anything to prove her point. Wood just made her an enemy.

Fuck.

Wood walks back into the living room and I just stare at him.

After learning all about me, does he even want to look at me? Talk to me? God I must seem like a disgusting blob to him right now.

“So,” he speaks up in a soft tone and I tense, waiting for the blow I know he’s about to deliver and ends us before we ever could really be an us. “You kissed a girl and you liked it, huh?”

I burst into laughter, easing away my tension.

Wood sits down on my couch and pats the cushion next to him. “Come here, Sweets.” God that smoky tone of his really gets to me.

I give him what he wants and sit down next to him, wary of touching him, but also wanting to fall into him for a hug. I really need a hug right now. His arm wraps around my shoulders and tugs me into his side to surround me in his warmth. I sink into him and let only a few tears escape. Stephanie knew just what scores to make. The most destructive hits its mark. She was always good at that, but I am done crying over her or something she had said. Relaxing into Wood’s arms, I let the spicy smell of him wash over me. I’ve never had a comforting moment with him before and yet if feels so comfortable and…right.

“You ready to talk?” His voice is gentle, not pushing. He waits for my nod before helping me sit up, but not letting me go entirely. “Is there anything left to tell me or was that the extent?”

“That was everything. Every painful thing ripped open and spat out.”

“You could have made better girlfriend choices,” he says while nodding, contemplating. A quick bark of laughter escapes me and I nod.

“Yeah, I could have. But that reminds me. You need to be careful, Wood. She’s,” I shake my head. “She’s evil when she’s pissed. And she is past pissed with you.”

“She can’t touch me, baby. Don’t worry over me.”

“Of course I’m going to worry. I know how she is and I know how you are.” I look at him with a disgusted face. “Just because you tell someone not to worry doesn’t mean they won’t worry, it actually means they probably will worry more than what they would before. Just please, promise me you will watch out for her. I know you don’t want your ego to take a hit thinking some chick could hurt you, but do not underestimate her.”

“It’s not my ego that makes me so sure, well okay, it’s that a little bit, but I have people watching my back. Family.”

“Club.” I finish before him. He smirks and nods. We fall into silence for a few moments while I gain the courage to start asking him questions. “Why are you here?”

“Because you needed a hug.” I shake my head into Wood’s neck at his obvious side step.

“And how was it that you came to be here, in my home, for you to be available for the nastiness?”

“I rode my bike here.”

“Dillon,” I snap.

“I like that. Hearing you say my name. That’s one of the reasons why I’m here.” Tilting my head, I look into his eyes, almost losing myself in the jade depths.

“I like having the chance to say it,” I tell him.

“I still can’t be what you need me to be.” What? He’s here, holding me, telling me all this, but he still can’t be with me? My hope starts to die, painfully.

“Then why are you here?”

“I thought if I gave you the reason, it would help you understand and you can be happy with Caveman.”

“I’m already happy with Caveman, but something is missing. A part of me not getting the chance to live. I think that part is you. I just want the chance to find out. To see what we could be together.”

“I can’t give my trust to a woman again,” he snaps out, I chuckle ruefully.

“Neither can I.”